Here’s one of those family finds that brings a painful truth of history to life… Not everyone made it across the pond.
Rosetta Suffling was the younger sister of my 4th Great Grandmother and the second known child of William and Elizabeth (Pegg) Suffling. She was born 8 Apr 1805 in Lessingham, Norfolk, England. She married Samuel Gibbs at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Hemsby Parish, Norfolk, England on 25 December 1829. The couple appears to have settled in Hemsby where Samuel worked as farm labor. They had nine children: Samuel Jr, William Suffling, Isaac, Elizabeth, Edmund, Mary Ann, Alfred, James, and Matthew.
On 1 May 1849 the family started their journey to the United States boarding the Bark Gov. Hinckley or George Hinckley under the command of Captain William Loring at London. Unfortunately around the middle of May (165 years ago this month) there was an outbreak of cholera aboard ship and by the time the ship arrived in New York on the 12 Jun 1849 10 individuals had died including Rosetta and daughter Mary Ann (both died 21 May), and her sons Edmund and Matthew (both died 23 May).
Samuel Gibbs and their remaining children made it to New York and Samuel married Lovina Huff to help raise them. Samuel and Lovina ended up in Barry County, Michigan in the vicinity of their Johnson cousins, my 3rd Great Uncles Matthew (who married his cousin, Elizabeth Gibbs) and John.
Happy hunting,
Jess
For more information on the 19th century sailing lines between America and the world see: Cutler Carl C. Queens of the Western Ocean: The Story of America’s Mail and Passenger Sailing Lines. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, 1961.
Genie Road Trip 
April 8, 2016 at 3:25 pm
As a fellow Suffling, with my ancestors being Norfolk based Sufflings, this research is really very interesting to read. I just wanted to thank you for posting your findings publicly. I have shared your research with my family history research group on facebook, which is currently 100+ Sufflings and growing. I have not quite linked our family tree’s yet, but i will continue to try. Best wishes to you and your family. Emma Suffling (UK)
April 9, 2016 at 5:16 pm
Thanks so much for reading and commenting! When it comes to making a connection, as I noted in the post Rosetta and my 4th great grandmother were the children of William and Elizabeth (Pegg) Suffling of Lessingham, Norfolk, England. I believe William was the son of Matthew and Elizabeth (Pratt) Suffling and Matthew was the son of Jeremiah and Hannah Suffling. Both Matthew and Jeremiah were baptized at Swafield, Norfolk. A cousin traced the line back two more generations Jeremiah’s father, Richard Suflling (wife Elizabeth), and Grandfather Thomas (wife Philippa). I haven’t spent a lot of time on the line lately but I’m always thrilled to connect with people.
Cheers,
Jess